Yukon XL tires LT vs P

[Captaine]

Hi guys,

I have a 2002 Yukon XL since few month. It came on worn out winter tires which I drove on last summer. They are now at 4/32" which is not acceptable for a Canadian winter!

The tire size is P245/75R16 on OEM Sierra steel wheels. They are 2 ply sidewall. When the truck is empty, they have a kind of "belly" like if they were too soft even at 37psi. I don't know how to say it better in English...
Currently, I think my Subaru Outback have equal or more ground clearance than the Yukon which not make sense to me!! I would like to make the truck higher with my new tires without playing with the keys or air ride.

Based on your experiences, should a LT tire stay "rounder" than a standard P tire on our heavy SUV?? Or maybe a P265 tire will be better than a P245??

I'm asking because I found a great deal on a set of P265/75R16 Firestone Winterforce UV. These tires are pretty expensive and I don't want to make a wrong move!!

Maybe it's only my old TigerPaws 245/75/16 that are lazy due to age!!?

Thanks!!

 

[southboundchicken]

I would definitely upgrade to a 265 series tire, i have p tires on my tahoe and have no issues

 

[Captaine]

Thanks,
I bought the tires anyway. The deal was too great to let it go.

But de 265/75R16 appear super giant compared to my current 245/75R16!!!!! I hope to not have fit or rubbing issue!!

This raise an other stupid issue that I did not considered. I won't probably not be able to put the truck in my garage without deflating the tires a bit. I currently only have about 3-4 inch between the garage door and the roof rack...

And also no more multi-stage or basement parkings since I already rubbed the roof rack few times on my current little tires!! I'm still not use to drive a big tall vehicle and I went in trouble few times in low ceiling area where I wasn't able to go back...

 

[YukonXL04]

I think 265/75r16 is the factory size. Had yours been dropped?

I have 275/65 r18 on mine with no rubbing. I think you can go up to a 275/75 or 285/75 with 16" wheel

 

[Captaine]

I'm not dropped. All stock XL SLT with the Auto ride.
The stock size on mine (2002) is 265/70R16. around 31in

I looked closely and the front suspension looks lower than the rear. I will probably have to crank up the torsion bars a bit to level it. One inch and maybe more. That's probably the reason why I was worried about rubbing. And raising the front will lower the rear of the roof rack!!

I'm also still confused if my Autoride work properly. I don't know how to force it to raise the shocks to see if it work... I don't have any cel or reading in the screen in the cluster. People says they hear the compressor and I hear many noise but I don't know what sound it's supposed to do!!!

Anyway, I can't wait to see the result on these bigger tires!!

 

[YukonXL04]

Stock the front is a little lower than the rear. Do you have autoride or self leveling? Big difference.

Yea 265/75 will fit just fine without cranking or anything.

 

[Captaine]

I assume I have Autoride since it's written on the little SLT logo next to the rear doors!
I thought it was the same thing!! I'll have to make more research and reading!!!

Great for tires!! I'm glad to ear that!!! I'm sandblasting my rims to paint them and I will mount them in few weeks.

BTW, my tires will be standard P tires. I talk to some people about that and they said me that LTs are more rigid and stay rounder under heavy weight but they also make the ride rougher.
I will give a try with these P tires and see what's happen under the weight of this truck!

 

[YukonXL04]

Mine are P rated and don't bulge at all where the tire meets the ground. But I also have a little less sidewall than you.

Mainly if you tow alot or weigh the cargo area down alot LT is better. I tow several times a year but I stay within the weight capacity of my tires.

 

[jough]

At least with Nitto Terra Grapplers, LTs have deeper tread but Ps last longer...65K miles for P and 50K miles for LTs. I do not know why.

 

[Captaine]

Interesting to know!

I always tough that LT were more durable.

Anyway, I will try these one and see!! My rims are also the OEM basic steel 16in X 7in. I think it doesn't help also on 265 tires. Probably a 8in or 9in wide would be better for a tire of this width!